–all flowering plants were in seed and about a half a dozen of these already had new green leaves. I pulled out one Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) and found no rosettes of Diffuse Knapweed (Centurea diffusa).

–I saw fresh deer scat and hoof prints, the first time since late spring. The Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys taploides incensus Goldman) is already digging burrows in preparation for underground winter living. I wonder if the temperature of the soil clues them into when to start burrowing as I see no evidence of digging after late spring?